Engine starter



vApril 16, 1929 R. P. LAsms Filed Selva-:29, 1"-926 2 sumas-5mm I! a 41 HI X36 i1 m 1li fill 36 B 36@ la S59 w f A i? 3 3j Z4. 47 25 y ,50

J -ir J J 545 I l J J 43 M 30 47 Y 3 3 il Z8 '91 April 16, .1929. R P LANslNG 1,709,586 I EEEEEEEEEEEEE ER Filed Sept- 29.l 192s 2 sheets-sneer 2 Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENroFFicE.

RAYMOND P. LANSING, OF MONTCLAIR, NEWI JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO' ECLIPSE MACHINE COMPANY', OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ENGINE STARTER. i

Application led September 29, 1926. Serial' No. 138,558.

My invention relates to engine starting apparatus for the starting of engines such asinternal combustion engines, and more particularly but not necessarily airplane engines, and the object thereof is to provide a simple,

' efficient and reliable apparatus capable of either manual or power' operation or both andcharacterized also by the provision of simple and efficient inertia means actuated bysucli power'or manual means for the accumulation and storage of energy which is thereupon utilized by the application thereof to the engine for cranking the same. Speaking more specifically, the main object of my invention is to provide the power means, such as an electric motor, with a connecting means l' which is automatically connectable with and disconnectable from a certain part ofi' the reduction gearing which is associated with the inertia means, such as a flywheel. The construction and arrangement is such that a variable ratio between the armature of the niotoi and the fiywheel is permitted instead of the necessity of a one to one ratio. My invention also provides for the ready application to and removal from the starting apparatus of the electric motor which is disposed at an angle to such apparatus, in the present Linstance at a ninety degree angle.

In the drawing', Figure 1 is a section ot an apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 an en'd view of the bell gear of the reduction gearing; and Fig. 3 a perspective of the apparatus.

My apparatus comprisesa transmission or drive having an element hereinafter designated a driving member adapted to engage and crank a. member of the engine to be started, reduction'means such as gearing, and inertia means such as a flywheel, and means for actuating such drive, gearing` and flywheel. Intl'ie present insta-nce I have shown two such actuating or driving means, to Wit: power means, such asan electric motor, and manual means including-,acrank shaft, either one of which two means may be dispensed with and i removed hfrom the apparatus if desired, though I prefer the complete apparat-us as hereinafter illustrated, that is, with both the power means and the manual means employed. For the purpose of a clearand accurate description of my invention and for convenience, I will describe my apparatus as used in connection with airplaneengines although it will be understood that the same is yfor the carrying out of my invention.

First describing the transmission .or drive,

the same is located within a. main casing 1 which is suitably supported as by being detachably connected with the crankcase 2 of the engine as by means of bolts 3, a small portion of which crankcase is illustrated. Within the casing, there rotates a driving barrel 4s and a nut 5 located and operating concentrically therewithin and operatively connected with the barrel by a yieldable driving'connection which is here in the form of a friction clutch 6. This clutch is composed of two sets of disks which arel splined respectively to the interior of the barrel and to a right-hand extension (Fig. 1) of the nut. The properpressuie for the disks is provided by a series of springs 7 located Withinthe barrel and such pressure is regulated by the adjustable ring 8 screwing in the interior of the bariel. The tlirust of these springs is against the flange 9 of nut 5 and tends to force suoli nut inwardly and consequently force p the clutch disks against the spacing ring 10 and into frictional contact with eachother.

The nut 5 is providedwith internal long lead threads 12in which is threaded a screw shaft 13 constituting the main portion of the driving member whose other principal portion'is a clutch member 14 adapted to engage a member of the engine to be started, such as the corresponding clutch member 15 forming a part of or secured to a rotatable part of the engine.l The elementli is inthe form of a disk having. clutch jaws 17 adapted to engage complementary clutch jaws 18 on the engine member and provided with a hub or sleeve portion 19 which is splined'to the outer end of the screw shaft by means of splines 20, whereby element 14 and screw shaft 13 have a `relative longitudinal movement of limited degree independent of each other.

The element 14 is' held in outward position with a yielding pressure in suitable manner as by means ot' a coil spring'- 22 Whichbears at its outer end against the bottom of sleeve 19 and at its inner end against thebottom of a socket formed in the outer end of the screw shaft. The outward movement of element 14 is limited'by the head or nut 21 on the outer or Ileft-hand end of an operating rod 23 which passes centrally through theand a plate 26 parallel therewith. This end' plate 4 has a hub 27 extendingv laterally the right in Fig. 1 and on the same there 1s loosely mounted a hub 28 of the, internal gear 29. This reduction gearing is opera.

tively connected respectively with the manual means and with the power means in the following manner:

Referring to the manual means, the same comprises Va cranking Ashaft 30 entering through one side of the casing 1 andhaving suitable bearings 31a and'32 therein. This shaft is provided with suitable means, such as the pins 33, for engagement with an ordin nary hand crank. At its inner end, the cranking shaft is provided with a bevel pinion 34 secured thereto and meshing with a corresponding bevel pinion 35 which is secured to the hub 27 of the barrel 4'.

Next referring to the inertia means, the same consists of a/lywheel 38 which hasva central hub keyed and. splined to a central shaft 43 which is here in alignment or tandem' relation with the axisof the driving member of the transmission. This shaft is provided at its left-hand end with a pinion 45 which meshes with peripheral gear teeth 46 of the bell gear 47 whose central shaft 48 is mounted within the bearing 49 of the casing 1a. This bell gear 47 is provided at one end with a pinion 50 which meshes with the internal gear 29.

Next referring to the power means or electric mot-or and its operating connections,- the electric motor 36 is removably secured by means of the bolts 36a to the upper extension of the casing 1. The armature shaft 37 of this motor is extended and provided with a screw threaded portion 38. On this extended armature shaft there is mounted the aut0.

matic engaging and disengaging', device which here comprises a c ontrol member or nut 39 and a pinion 40 which .is operatively connected with the nut 39 and controlled in itsmovements ,and ,driven thereby through the medium of a barrel 41. This barrel and nut are held in yielding extended position by means of a coiled spring 42, such barrel being splined at its upper end to the nut 39. The pinion v40 meshes with anintegral crown gear 47 on the bell gear 47 which constitutes an intermediate member of the` reduction means, and is ,adapted to rotate the latter. In addition to the main spring 42 which permits the pinion 40 to have longitudinal endwise movement in case of abutting of its teeth with the gear teeth 47 a, an additional spring 59 is provided in order to hold the device or shift in its out of mesh position.

' The rod 23 is adapted'to be manually operated by suitable connections extending through the side of the casing la, not shown.

Describing a cycle of operation and beginning with the-parts in their normal position shown in Fig. 1, except that the pinion 40 is here in its engaged position, and first describing such operation when the electric motor is employed as the starting means for the ilywheel and the drive, when the motor is energized the automatic connection between its armature shaft and the bell gear will be automatically. advanced so as to bringthe pinion 40 into mesh with the crown gear 47a and the reduction gearing as well as the flywheel will be rapidly rotated and the torque' will be transmitted to the drive or transmission including the screwshaft 13. However, this shaft will now be merely rotated. and will not be advanced as its rotation is comparatively slow because of the reduction gearing. When the flywheel rotation has reached the predetermined degree the current may or may not be cut off from the electric motor as desired by the operator but the rod is now operated by being thrust to` the left asin Fig. 1 with the result that the screw shaft 13 will be caused by such pressure and by lautomatic action between yits screw threads and those of the nut 5 to be advanced, thereby bringing the clutch jaws 17 and 18 into engagement. The engine member will thereby be rotated and the engine will be cranked. When the engine operates under its own power the driving member will be automatically disengaged through the screw action between the screw shaft 13 and the nut 5 and also the inclined formation of the clutch jaws.

Next describing a cycle of operation when themanual means is the source of power, when thecranking shaft 30 is rotated by an ordinary-hand crank the bevel gear 34vwill be rotated and thereby the bevel gear 35 and hub 37 and entire barre1`24 of the drive. At the same time the planetary gears will cause rotation of the internal gear 29 which in turn will operate the transmission gearing composed of the pinion 50, gear 47, pinion 45 and shaft 43, with the result tha't the flywheel 38'vwill be rapidly rotated. At this time the electric `motor is disconnected inasmuch as .the automatic connecting device is normally gearing will automatically disengage said device and cause it1to assume its normal position which, as stated, is a position of non-engagement with the bell gear. Still describing the manual operation, when the desired or predetermined R. P. M. of 'the flywheel is reached, the operator will actuate the rod 23 in the manner and with the result hereinbefore explained in the case of the use.of the motor as the actuating means.

The above described apparatus provides a very compact forni of electric inertia starter of the vertical form and the connecting device on the extended armature shaft serves not only as the automatic connection and disconnection between the armature and the gearing of the apparatus but furnishes an advantageous ninety degree gear drive as well and, `moreover, permits 4of a variable ratio between the armature and the flywheel.`

I claim:

l. An engine starterincluding a drive having a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, axially fixed reduction means operatively connected with the drive, a motor, and motion transmitting means operatively associated with the motor and adapted to directly engage an element of the reduction means, said motion transmitting' means being normally disconnected from said element.

2.. An engine starter Aincluding a drive having a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engineto be started, axially fixed reduction means operatively connected with the drive, a motor,;and operating connections between the motor and an intermediate member of the reduction means, said connections being normally disengaged therefrom but adapted to be automatically engaged therewith when the motor is operated.

3. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started and means for controlling the cranking engagement and disengagement of said driving member, reduction means operatively connected with the drive, a motor, and automatically engaging and disengaging means between the motor and an ,intermediatel member of the reduction means.

4. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started and means to control such engagement, a reduction gearing operatively connected with the drive, a motor, and operating-connections between the motor and reduction gearing including a pinion normally disengaged from such reductionl gearing but adaptedto be automatically engaged therewith as an incident to the operation of the motor. l

5. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started and means to control such engagement, constantly-meshed reduction gearing operatively connected with the drive, a motor, and

loperating connections between the motor and reduction gearing including a pinion normally disengaged from such reduction gearing but adapted to be automatically engaged therewith as an incident to the operation of the motor and to be automatically disengaged '.nectable with said crown gear.

7. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started` reduction gearing operatively connected with said drive and including an internal gcar,a driving gear having a peripheral gear, a crown gear and also a central pinion which meshes with the internal gear, an inertia device including a pinion meshing with said pcripheral gear, an electric motor having an armature shaft, and a connecting device for automatically connecting the motor with said crown gear.

8. An engine starter including a drive having adriving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started,I reduction gearing operatively connected with said drive and including an internal gear, a driving gear having a peripheral gear, a crown gear and also a central pinion which mesheswith the internal gear, an inertia device including a pinion meshing with said peripheral gear and an electric motor having an armature shaft, and a pinion mounted for automatic 'longitudinal movement thereon to mesh with said crown gear when the motor vis enregized.

9. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, reduction gearing operatively connected with said drive and including an internal gear, a driving gear having a peripheral gea-r, a crown gear and also a central pinion which meshes with the internal gear, an inertia delvice including a pinion meshing with sai-d peripheral gear, an electric'motor disposed at an angle tothe axis of rotation of said driving gear and having an armature shaft, and a connecting device controlled and'driven by the motor and adapted to engage and drive said driving gear when the motor is `energized.

10. An engine starter including a drive having a driving member adapted to engage gized.

Aoperatively connected with said driving and crank a member of the engine to be startinternal gear, a driving gear in the form of ed, reduction gearing operatively connected abell with a peripheral Agearand a central with said drive and including an internal pinion which meshes with the internal gear, gear, a driving gear having a peripheral said driving gear bearing in the other one gear, a crown gear` and also a central pinion of said hubs of the casing, a shaft connected which meshes with the internal gear, an inwith said flywheel andhaving a pinion meshertia device including a pinion meshing with ing with said peripheral gear, and an elecsaid peripheral gear, an electric motor havtric motor adapted to be operatively coning an armature shaft disposed at an angle nected with said driving gear, said motor to the axis of rotation of said driving gear, being detachably connected with said casing. and an automatic engaging and disengaging 14. An engine starter including a drive device carried by said armature shaft and having a centrally located driving member adaptedto engage and drive the driving gear adapted to engage and crank a member of when the motor is energizedand to be autoan engine to be started, reduction gearing opmaticallydisengaged when the motor is deeratively connected with said drive, a casenergized. ing in which such' drive and gearing are l1. An engine starter including a drive mounted and contained and which has bearhaving a centrally located driving member ing. hubs, a flywheel bearing in one of said adapted to engage and crank a member of hubs of the'. casing, said reduction gearing an engine to be started, reduction gearing including an internal gear, a driving gear in,

operatively connected with said drive, a casthe form of a bell with a peripheral gear and ing in which such drive and gearing are a central pinion which meshes with the inmounted and contained and which has bearternal gear, said driving gear bearing in the ing hubs, a flywheel bearing in one of. said other oneof said hubs of the casing, a shaft hubs of the casing, said reduction gearing inconnected with said flywheel and having a cluding an internalA gear, a driving gear in pinion meshing with said peripheral gear, I

the form of a bell with a peripheral gear and an electric lmotor adapted to be operaand a central pinion which meshes with the tively connected with said driving gear, and internal gear, said driving gear bearing in includingan'armature shaft extending into the other one of said hubs of the casing, a said casing, and an automatic engaging and shaft connected with said flywheel and havdisengaging device mounted on said shaft and lng a pinion meshing with said peripheral adapted to engage 'and dnive said driving gear, and an electric motor adapted to be gear. l

Gear. l5. An engine starter including a drive 12, An engine starter including a drive having a centrally located driving member having a centrally located driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of adapted to engage and crank a member of an engine to be started, reduction gearing opan engine to bestarted, reduction gearing eratively connected with said drive, a casing operatively connected with said drive, a casin which such drive and gearing are mounted ing in which such drive and gearing are and contained and which has bearing hubs, a mounted and contained and which hasbearflywheel bearing in one of said hubs of the ing hubs, a flywheel bearing in one of said casing, said reduction gearing including an hubs of the casing, said reduction gearing internal gear, a driving gearin the form of including an internal gear, a driving gearl a bell with a peripheral gear and a central in the form of a bell with a peripheral gear pinion which meshes with the internal gear, and a central pinion which meshes with the said driving gear bearing in the other one of internal gear, said driving gear bearing in said hubs of the casing, ashaft connected the other one of said hubs of the casing, a with said flywheel and having a pinion meshshaft connected with'said flywheel and having with said eripheral gea'r, and an electric 1ng a pinion meshing with said peripheral motor adapte `to be operatively connected gear, and an electric motor adapted to be with said driving gear, said driving gearoperatively connected with said driving gear, having a crown gear with which said motor said motor being normally disconnected engages.

therefrom but adapted to be automatically 16. An engine starter including a drive connectedtherewit-hwh'en the motor is enerhaving a centrally located driving member adapted to engage and crank a member ofan 13. An engine starter including a drive having a centrally `located driving member eratively connected with said drive, a casing adapted to engage and crank amember of in whichsuch drive and gearing are mountan' engine to be started, reduction gearing oped and contained and which has bearing lubs, eratively connected with said drive, a casing a flywheel bearing in one of said hubs of the in which such drive and gearing are mount-a casing, said reduction gearing including an ed and contained and which has bearing hubs, internal gear, a drivingfgear in lthe form of a flywheel bearing in one of said hubs of the a bell with a peripheral gear anda central. casing, said reduction' gearing including an pinion which-l meshes with the internal 'gear-,m

said drivinggear bearing in the other one of said hubs of the casing, a shaft connected with said flywheel and having a pinion meshing with said peripheral gear,and an elec- 5 tric motor adapted to be operatively oonneted with said 'driving gear, said motor having an automatic engaging and disengaging device in the form of a pinion controlled and driven thereby, and said driving gear having a crowngear with which Said pinion 10 engages.-

In testimony ivhereof, I have subscribed my name.

RAYMOND P. LANSING. 

